The Love-Barter

A heartfelt prayer seeking divine mercy and forgiveness, and the honor of praising the Prophet with humility and devotion.

One night in prayer,
A man cried to God.
As the burden of sins
He couldn’t afford.

“Ya Rabb!
You are the most just
To trade with.
Your Mercy is best.

I am the slave,
No doubt I have.
You are the Master;
With mercy You foster.

Yet I beg,
In exchange,
Which none will have
After my age.

May this fortune
Be mine alone.
This flag in the future
Be never flown.

Ya Rabb!
May I serve the entire wine
Of Your Beloved!
For the sons of Adam,
His love be doled.

Give me those
Infinite words of Praise
To eulogize him
Whose name means Praise.

And in return,
Give me a sip
Of al-Kawthar’s drink:
My name be in Paradise ink-ed.

This is what I ask
Of Your Bounty.
My good deeds are
Not more than scanty.

The nature of this world isn’t—
The nature of Mustafa isn’t?”

Oct 7, 2005. Edit May 2024